Refuse compactor container assembly

ABSTRACT

A container assembly is provided on a slide or carriage selectively partially removable from a refuse compactor housing, such container assembly including a lightweight, substantially cylindrical plastic receptacle that may be removed from the slide for either remote withdrawal of compacted refuse or cleaning. A plastic liner is usually disposed within the receptacle and is maintained in such position by a cuff embracingly held or clamped against the external surface thereof by a stretched retaining band.

Unite States Patent [191 Stratman et a1.

[45] Aug. 6, 1974 REFUSE COMPACTOR CONTAINER ASSEMBLY Inventors: Jerome F. Stratman, Cypress; John Novak, Anaheim, both of Calif.

Assignee: The Tappan Company, Mansfield,

Ohio

Filed: Nov. 3, 1971 Appl. No.: 195,226

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No, 112,138, Feb. 3, 1971, Pat. No. 3,741,108.

US. Cl 100/229 A Int. Cl B30b 15/06 Field of Search 100/229, 229 A, 221, 224,

100/225, 240, 244, 245, 265, 266, 268; 53/124 B; 141/71, 73, 80, 252, 390; 248/54 R, 54 CS, DIG. 7; 312/270, 271, 273, 274, 319; 220/63, 65, 72

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Bassford 100/245 Gauntt 141/252 Smith 100/229 X Davis 220/72 Dale 220/72 X Carlson 141/390 Selmer 312/270 3,254,467 6/1966 Garrow et a1 100/90 X 3,353,478 11/1967 Hopkins 100/229 X 3,463,079 8/1969 Corbett 100/229 X 3,515,306 6/1970 Roper ct a1. 220/72 X 3,528,718 9/1970 Johnson ct a1 312/270 X 3,537,390 11/1970 Hinkel et a1. 1011/229 X 3,601,953 8/1971 Boyd 53/124 11 3,611,673 10/1971 Carkhuff 100/229 X 3,613,561 10/1971 Diflcy 100/229 X 3,654,855 4/1972 Longo 100/229 3,714,890 2/1973 Moon 100/53 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 946,883 8/1956 Germany [00/265 Primary Examiner-Billy .1. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Donnelly, Maky, Renner & Otto 5 7 ABSTRACT A container assembly is provided on a slide or carriage selectively partially removable from a refuse compactor housing, such container assembly including a lightweight, substantially cylindrical plastic receptacle that may be removed from the slide for either remote withdrawal of compacted refuse or cleaning. A plastic liner is usually disposed within the receptacle and is maintained in such position by a cuff embracingly held or clamped against the external surface thereof by a stretched retaining band.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENT) NIB 6 I974 l D45 B REFUSE COMPACTOR CONTAINER ASSEMBLY The present invention is a continuation-in-part of my copcnding application Ser. No. I l2,|38, entitled Rel'usc Compactor." l'iled Feb. 3, l)7l, now, US. Pat. No. 3,741,108 which issued June 26, 1973.

The present invention relates as indicated to a container assembly for trash compacting units and, more particularly, to both the construction of a substantially cylindrical receptacle therefor and the structure for suspending the same within the unit.

For the convenience of the home owner and increased efficiency in the use of available facilities for trash removal and destruction or recycling, trash compacting units have been developed for domestic use which compact the refuse deposited therein to a fraction of its initial volume. Reference may be had to Hinkel et al US. Pat. No. 3,537,390 and Hopkins US. Pat. No. 3,353,478 for examples of typical compacting units.

In the Hinkel et al patent, a rectangular receptacle is an integral part of a drawer and lined with a plastic refuse wrapper or bag which may be removed from the receptacle for disposal of the compacted trash. This lined drawer arrangement has as one disadvantage the possibility of wrapper perforation by compacted glass articles or the like, such perforations exposing the home owner to sharp cutting surfaces extending through the bag during removal of the same to the disposal area. In addition, the drawer may normally be cleaned only when in its mounted and open position, such position being relatively close to the floor and remote from a sink area.

The Hopkins compacting unit discloses a receptacle or container that is positioned within and removed from the housing by the home owner, the container being free of any positive connection with the housing. Such an arrangement requires that the container be removed from the housing every time the compacted trash is disposed of, and if the container is metallic, the inside surface thereof is subject to being scratched with subsequent corrosion possible due to the materials handled.

It is, accordingly, the primary object of the present invention to provide a container assembly having a strong but lightweight receptacle of generally cylindrical configuration. It may, for example, be made of high impact nylon, and should in any case be sufficiently strong to withstand repeated cyclical loading, while light enough readily to be handled by the home owner.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide a container assembly on a carriage in a compactor unit having a substantially cylindrical receptacle adapted readily to be removed from the unit for remote disposal of the compacted trash.

Itis still another object of the present invention to provide a container assembly having a receptacle in which a separate liner may be positioned, such liner being secured to the receptacle by a cuff embracingly urged against the outside surface thereof by a stretched retaining band. The external surface of the container is formed with a plurality of outwardly extending annular ribs to provide, among other things, a seat therebetween for the stretched retaining band.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of theforegoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In the annexed drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a free-standing refuse compactor with the slide open and the container assembly of the present invention therein for reception of refuse; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the substantially cylindrical refuse receptacle partially broken away for clarity of illustration.

Referring now in more detail to the drawing and initially to FIG. 1, a free-standing portable refuse compactor indicated generally at 10 is illustrated which includes a housing comprised of side panels 12, a back panel (not shown), front control panel 14, top wall 16, and bottom panel 18. A slide 20 is horizontally slidably mounted to the housing as indicated at 22 for selective movement between the open accessible position illustrated in FIG. 1 and the closed compaction position within the housing, not shown. A ram 24 is suspended within the housing for compaction of refuse and is automatically driven through a complete compression cycle by drive means (not shown) actuated by start switch 25 on control panel 14.

Slide 20 includes a front panel 26 having horizontally positioned handle 28 mounted thereon and kickplate 30 therebelow. The container assembly indicated generally at 32 includes a boxlike frame 33 behind and connected to the front panel. The upper horizontal surface 34 of the frame is provided with an aperture 35 through which the receptacle indicated generally at 36 extends. Such receptacle is suspended within the frame for slight vertical movement, as described in more detail hereinafter.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the substantially cylindrical receptacle 36 of the container assembly is illustrated in more detail. This receptacle is molded from high impact nylon, and provides a receptacle that has high impact resistance, dimensional stability and resistance to chemical reaction caused by water, organic sales and the like.

The container 36 is integrally formed with bottom wall 38, annular side wall 40, and top lip 42, with the side wall tapering slightly inwardly from the top lip to the bottom wall. This taper, preferably on the order of a 2 draft, facilitates disposable bag removal and allows the bottom portion of the receptacle readily to be inserted through aperture 35 into frame 33. The upper portion of side wall 40 is formed with two diametrically opposed rectangular apertures 43 which serve as handles for the receptacle, with the portion 44 of the side wall surrounding the apertures being relatively thicker for increased strength and ease of handling.

The bottom of container 36 is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced vent apertures 48 at the intersection of bottom wall 38 and side wall 40. Each such aperture is cooperatively formed by a vertical relief 49 of limited width on bottom wall 38 and an opening 50 at the upper end of the inwardly relieved portion. The slightly elevated vent apertures 48 permit the escape of air from the compression side of ram 24 during the compaction stroke, whereby the downward movement of the ram is restricted only by the amount of refuse therein or its preselected lower vertical limit.

The external surface of the annular side wall is provided with a plurality of outer strengthening annular ribs 45, with such ribs preferably being formed in two vertically spaced sets as shown in FIG. 2. The bottom rib 45A of the lower set and bottom rib 45B of the upper set extend slightly radially outwardly of the remaining ribs to provide additional surfaces for engagement by frame carried members. Specifically, the bottom of rib 45A is engaged at peripherally spaced points by a plurality of upwardly biased leaf springs such as shown at S, mounted on and projecting above top wall 34 of the box frame 33. These springs, with their upper exposed ends plastic covered, normally resiliently support the receptacle in a position wherein the bottom wall thereof is slightly above the bottom 18 of the housing. Such clearance allows the slide or carriage readily to be slide into and out of the housing. However, it will be appreciated that the springs allow container 36 to move downwardly into engagement with bottom 18 during the compression stroke of ram 24, as set forth in more detail in my previously mentioned copending application.

Rib 45A is maintained slightly above the plane of top wall 34 by the supporting leaf springs. Two diametrically opposed latches 52 are pivotally mounted on such top wall 34 as best shown in FIG. 1. After the receptacle has been inserted into the carriage and supported on the springs S, latches 52 are pivoted around into operative position over rib 45A. Thus the receptacle cannot be withdrawn from frame 33 without pivoting the latches back to the inoperative position, but the overlapping of the same permits the receptacle to be moved slightly downwardly.

The receptacle is provided with a disposable plastic liner or bag 55. Such liner is held in place by a cuff 56 folded over the lip of the receptacle, with the cuff being clamped by a stretched annular retaining band 57 preferably underneath rib 458. It will be appreciated, however, that the flexible retainer can be placed in any of the seats formed by the adjacent annular ribs.

The assembly of the container unit and the operation of the trash compactor, which should be clear from the above description, will be hereinafter briefly described. When the drawer is in its open position, the receptacle 36 may be lowered into the frame until seated on the leaf springs S at the bottom rib 45A. The latches 52 are then pivoted to overlie rib 45A to secure such receptacle to the carriage frame 33. Plastic bag or liner 55 is positioned in the receptacle with cuff 56 over lip 42 as shown, and the cuff is clamped against the outer surface of the receptacle by retaining band 57. The receptacle may then be filled with refuse and the like, and the slide pushed into the closed compaction position within the housing.

The home owner then selectively energizes the ram drive means by depression of start button 25 on control panel 14. The drive means is operative automatically to propel the ram downwardly into the receptacle for compaction of the refuse therein and subsequently to return to its withdrawn upper position. The slide may then be withdrawn to the open position for insertion of additional refuse and, when the bag is substantially full of compacted refuse, such bag may be removed from the receptacle, sealed and placed at a trash disposal area. The receptacle is then ready for the insertion of another liner and repetition of the same compacting cycle.

It will be understood that the plastic receptacle itself may be removed from the frame merely by pivoting the retaining latches to an inoperative position and subsequently pulling it upwardly and outwardly on the receptacle by means of handles 43. This removal of the receptacle permits it to be taken to a convenient area for thorough cleaning. The receptacle has sufficient strength to withstand repeated cyclical loading without significant surface irregularities being generated. This permits the same to be used without the liner, if de sired.

The spacing of the receptacle vent holes 48 above the inside bottom thereof provides for containment of a certain amount of residual liquid in the refuse, so that the receptacle can be taken from the compactor within a home kitchen, for example, and carried to a probably exterior disposal point without dripping or spill. The same objectives of venting and liquid retention can of course be realized with other hole arrangements, such as a plurality of holes in the bottom of the receptacle itself with vertical flanges or ribs about the same to the desired height above the bottom.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a refuse compactor having a housing, a slide associated with said housing for selective partial withdrawal from the latter, and a reciprocally driven ram, a container assembly including a refuse receptacle having a plurality of external ribs, spring means on said slide bearing against the underside of one of said ribs resiliently to support the receptacle on the slide, and latch means on said slide selectively positioned above one of said ribs to preclude withdrawal of the receptacle from said slide.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said receptacle has a plurality of vent apertures at a predetermined spacing above the interior bottom surface, to provide for venting of air from within the receptacle while also providing retention of a certain amount of residual liquid and the like which may escape from the refuse.

3. In a kitchen compactor of the type including a housing, a reciprocally driven ram in said housing, and a slide having a front panel and an inwardly extending part mounted for sliding movement in the housing be tween open and closed positions; the improvement comprising a separate refuse receptacle made of a plastic material and formed with a series of exterior strengthening ribs, means for positioning and holding said receptacle on said part of the slide to move therewith, said last-named means locating the receptacle in an exposed condition for placement of refuse therein when the slide is in open position and beneath the ram to accept the same for compaction of the contained refuse in the closed position, and further including latch means to preclude inadvertent removal of the receptacle from the slide.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the receptacle is substantially cylindrically formed with a slight inward taper from top to bottom.

5. In a kitchen compactor of the type including a housing, a reciprocally driven ram in said housing, and

a slide having a front panel and an inwardly extending part mounted for sliding movement in the housing between open and closed positions; the improvement comprising a separate refuse receptacle, a disposable liner bag within said receptacle having its upper end cuffed about the top of the same, a stretched resilient band removably engaged about that part of the cuffed bag end overlying the exterior top of the receptacle to hold the bag against inadvertent removal, means for positioning and holding said receptacle on said part of the slide to move therewith, said last-named means cating the receptacle in an exposed condition for placement of refuse therein when the slide is in open position and beneath the ram to accept the same for compaction of the contained refuse in the closed position, and including latch means actuatable selectively to restrain or release the receptacle from removal from the slide.

6. The assembly set forth in claim 5, wherein the bottom portion of the receptacle is provided with a plurality of vent openings spaced above the plane of the receptacle bottom.

7. [n a compactor of the type including a housing, a reciprocally driven ram in said housing, and a slide having a front panel and an inwardly extending part mounted for sliding movement in the housing between open and closed positions, the improvement comprising a container assembly including a receptacle having a substantially cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall for reception of refuse to be compacted by said ram, said receptacle being made of a plastic material, said receptacle having a slight inward taper from top to bottom, means for mounting said receptacle removably on said slide, said last-named means locating the receptacle in an exposed condition for placement of refuse therein when the slide is in open position and beneath the ram to accept the same for compaction of the contained refuse in the closed position, a disposable plastic liner positioned within and supported by said receptable to contain the refuse, said receptacle having a plurality of annular ribs on the external side wall thereof and the liner having a cuff extending downwardly for a limited extent over such external side wall, such cuff being positively embraced by a stretch resilient band beneath one of said ribs, and latch means actuatable selectively to restrain or release the receptacle relative to said slide. 

1. In combination with a refuse compactor having a housing, a slide associated with said housing for selective partial withdrawal from the latter, and a reciprocally driven ram, a container assembly including a refuse receptacle having a plurality of external ribs, spring means on said slide bearing against the underside of one of said ribs resiliently to support the receptacle on the slide, and latch means on said slide selectively positioned above one of said ribs to preclude withdrawal of the receptacle from said slide.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said receptacle has a plurality of vent apertures at a predetermined spacing above the interior bottom surface, to provide for venting of air from within the receptacle while also providing retention of a certain amount of residual liquid and the like which may escape from the refuse.
 3. In a kitchen compactor of the type including a housing, a reciprocally driven ram in said housing, and a slide having a front panel and an inwardly extending part mounted for sliding movement in the housing between open and closed positions; the improvement comprising a separate refuse receptacle made of a plastic material and formed with a series of exterior strengthening ribs, means for positioning and holding said receptacle on said part of the slide to move therewith, said last-named means locating the receptacle in an exposed condition for placement of refuse therein when the slide is in open position and beneath the ram to accept the same for compaction of the contained refuse in the closed position, and further including latch means to preclude inadvertent removal of the receptacle from the slide.
 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the receptacle is substantially cylindrically formed with a slight inward taper from top to bottom.
 5. In a kitchen compactor of the type including a housing, a reciprocally driven ram in said housing, and a slide having a front panel and an inwardly extending part mounted for sliding movement in the housing between open and closed positions; the improvement comprising a separate refuse receptacle, a disposable liner bag within said receptacle having its upper end cuffed about the top of the same, a stretched resilient band removably engaged about that part of the cuffed bag end overlying the exterior top of the receptacle to hold the bag against inadvertent removal, means for positioning and holding said receptacle on said part of the slide to move therewith, said last-named means locating the receptacle in an exposed condition for placement of refuse therein when the slide is in open position and beneath the ram to accept the same for compaction of the contained refuse in the closed position, and including latch means actuatable selectively to restrain or release the receptacle from removal from the slide.
 6. The assembly set forth in claim 5, wherein the bottom portion of the receptacle is provided with a plurality of vent openings spaced above the plane of the receptacle bottom.
 7. In a compactor of the type including a housing, a reciprocally driven ram in said housing, and a slide having a front panel and an inwardly extending part mounted for sliding movement in the housing between open and closed positions, the improvement comprising a container assembly including a receptacle having a substantially cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall for reception of refuse to be compacted by said ram, said receptacle being made of a plastic material, said receptacle having a slight inward taper from top to bottom, means for mounting said receptacle removably on said slide, said last-named means locating the receptacle in an exposed condition for placement of refuse therein when the slide is in open position and beneath the ram to accept the same for compaction of the contained refuse in the closed position, a disposable plastic liner positioned within and supported by said receptable to contain the refuse, said receptacle having a plurality of annular ribs on the external side wall thereof and the liner having a cuff extending downwardly for a limited extent over such external side wall, such cuff being positively embraced by a stretch resilient band beneath one of said ribs, and latch means actuatable selectively to restrain or release the receptacle relative to said slide. 